English, baby!

The Jury is Out

Learn English in this lesson about 'The Jury is Out'

Date: Aug 30 2016

Themes: Friend, Romance, Soap Opera

Grammar: Tag Questions

Go Super!

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

Go Super to Listen

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Go Super to Listen

Sometimes, it can be difficult to be certain about anything! We live busy lives, and it is not very easy to make plans when so much is going on. For example, maybe, your friend asks if you want to spend time together on Saturday. However, you are not sure that you can. Your mom might be visiting this weekend. The jury is still out on whether you will have any free time to see your friend.

We use the phrase “the jury is out” to describe a situation where nothing is certain yet. The expression originally comes from the US legal system, but now, we use it to talk about many different things. For example, if you are not sure how much money you will make this month, the jury might still be out on whether you can buy that new pair of shoes. Or perhaps, you want to go out for dinner, but the jury is still out on whether you want pizza or noodles. Life is full of uncertainty, so there are a lot of opportunities to use this expression!

Kelsey and Jordin are trying to organize Sheila’s party. However, they still need to decide a few things. Watch the video to find out what happens.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jordin

Kelsey

Jordin: Hey!

Kelsey: Hey! So, I was talking with Andy about Sheila’s party.

Jordin: Oh yeah. Dominique gave me a list of things to get and organize. What are you going to get her for a present?

Kelsey: Well, Andy and I are going to write her a song.

Jordin: Oh, cool!

Kelsey: Yeah, it’s fun. But…

Jordin: What?

Kelsey: About Andy…

Jordin: Yes?

Kelsey: Well, the jury is still out on this. I’m not sure it’s going to happen.

Jordin: What? What’s going on with Andy?

Kelsey: Well, I think he really likes Sheila.

Jordin: They do seem to be spending a lot of time together, but they sort of seem like opposites, don’t they?

Kelsey: I mean, it’s kind of surprising they like each other so much.

Jordin: Like each other?

Kelsey: Yeah, I think he’s going to ask her to be his girlfriend in the song or at the end of it.

Jordin: Oh.

Kelsey: I’m sorry. I know you like him, too.

Jordin: I thought I did, but we haven’t really gotten a chance to hang out, so…

Kelsey: Like I said, the jury is still out. He might not ask her, but I just wanted you to know.

Jordin: Thanks, but I’m actually fine with it. I really like working with you guys, and that’s more important, so if Andy and Sheila want to get together, that’s fine with me.

Kelsey: OK! Do you want to hear what I’ve written so far?

Jordin: Of course!

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Tag Questions" from this lesson

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3

Go Super to Ask Ebaby! teachers your questions!

The iTEP^® test

Sponsored by

Schedule an iTEP^® test and take the official English Practice Test.
Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Kelsey and Jordin are working together to plan Sheila’s surprise party. Kelsey tells Jordin that she and Andy are going to write a song, but there’s something else she needs to get off her chest. Kelsey tells Jordin that Andy might ask Sheila to be his girlfriend. The jury is still out on whether he will or not, but Kelsey wanted Jordin to know.

Kelsey is afraid that Jordin will be upset because she knows that Jordin likes Andy, too. However, Jordin says that she has not gotten a chance to hang out with Andy very much. She’s not sure if she still has a crush on him. In fact, she likes working with the whole team so much that she feels like that is more important. It is OK with her if Andy and Sheila want to start dating.

Do you think opposites can date? Have you ever planned a surprise party?

Comments

Carla Cristina Fagundes

Brazil

Well, I think opposites can date, but they need to be willing to give up on something sometimes to make the other person happy. It envolves being flexible and tolerant.

Even if they’re opposites, they must be compatible or in accordance with the decisions they make in a relashionship.

pietrucha715

Poland

I think opposites can date, but it requires a lot of tolerance and patience :)
In Poland we say that opposites attract each other

allenzhaojl

China

I just got into a new school, and the jury is still out on whether or not I like it.

buttafly

Germany

Thank you so much, Alston. Your prayers are much appreciated!

englishteacher24/7

United States

Anja, that’s an excellent use of this phrase. Will pray about your mother’s condition.

buttafly

Germany

‘The jury is still out’ – an idiom I use quite often. As a matter of fact, used it last night while telling a relative about my mother’s condition. She’s hospitalized and so far they haven’t decided whether she needs surgery or not. The jury is still out on her.